Improved horizon sensor for artificial satellites - uses thermosensitive elements and subtractive compensation elements relative to thermal image of earth

摘要

The horizon sensor is for artificial satellites. It uses thermosensitive elements (m1, m2) of equal area (Am) to evaluate the angle of the axis w.r.t. the centre of the earth, whose thermal image is formed on the elements concerned. These elements are aligned and positioned symmetrically relative to the origin of the x,y,z system of axes so that the parts of their sensitive surfaces irradiated at zero pointing error have equal areas. A "subtractive" compensative element (c1, c2) is associated with each main sensor (m1, m2). These compensative elements have areas Ac and are totally covered by the image of the earth.